New goalkeeper Cudicini pleased with shutout in LA Galaxy debut

CARSON, Calif. – Carlo Cudicini admits that his MLS debut wasn’t perfect, but the veteran goalkeeper was pleased to earn a clean sheet in his first match for the Galaxy.

Cudicini wasn’t particularly busy during the 4-0 rout, but he did made his lone save of the afternoon count as he parried a free kick chance by Maicon Santos over the bar in the 60th minute. The day was not without it's difficulties as in the 31st minute, he saw a pass to Leonardo intercepted by Chicago’s Chris Rolfe. The Fire forward burst alone on goal, but saw his shot float just wide of Cudicini net.

That moment aside, the former English Premier League 'keeper thought he performed well in his American debut.

“It’s always good to keep a clean sheet or a shutout like you say [in America]. It’s good for confidence,” said Cudicini. “I could have dealt better with a couple of back passes, but at the end of the day, I didn’t have to do much which was good. That means that the team defended well. So hopefully, we’ll have another good performance on Thursday.”

The veteran ‘keeper saw little action on Sunday, but he admitted that he was impressed with his teammates defending as they held the Fire scoreless.

“It’s easy to say when you don’t concede goals that it is the back four or the goalie," said Cudicini. "But at the end of the day, it’s the team that defends and we defended very well."